Hyun-Seung “Dwayne” Hong ’11

For Hyun-Seung “Dwayne” Hong ’11, the path to purpose has involved a scalpel, a soldering iron and a fair amount of soul-searching — all shaped by a foundation he built at Gilmour.

 

Now serving as a dental officer and captain in the Korean military, Dwayne spends his days treating soldiers in a military hospital, addressing everything from cavities and jaw disorders to dental implants. “We use our jaws thousands of times a day,” he says. “So even small interventions can make a huge difference — and that gives my work meaning.”

 

After graduating from Gilmour, Dwayne headed to Stanford University, initially studying bioengineering before switching to biomechanical engineering. “I realized I wanted to design real, tangible solutions,” he explains.

 

That curiosity eventually pulled him toward dentistry, leading him back to Korea to earn his doctorate at Seoul National University School of Dentistry, followed by an orthodontic residency and internship at the same institution. “Orthodontics brings together engineering creativity, surgical precision and personal care,” he says. “It’s head, hands and heart — every day.”

 

That combination of intellect and empathy reflects the values Dwayne has carried with him since Gilmour. “English wasn’t my strength when I first arrived, and I often asked for help with papers,” he recalls. “But in other subjects, I helped others. That culture of openness, humility and generosity shaped how I collaborate to this day.”

 

His six years in the dorms left a particularly lasting mark. “I got my nickname ‘Dwayne’ from the senior hockey players,” he laughs. “It stuck — and made me memorable.” Living alongside students from all over the world broadened his worldview, while dorm proctors like Mr. Bonacci and Mr. Grant showed him what it meant to lead with fairness and integrity.

 

He still remembers moments in the classroom that lit up his curiosity: Mr. Appelbaum’s coil-wheel demonstration, Mr. Klein’s physics projects, Mr. Cumming’s chemistry experiments. “Both Dr. Nowak and Dr. Goel were incredibly supportive both in and out of class — and still are to this day. And the Catalyst program? A dream for a science nerd like me.”

 

But not every milestone in Dwayne’s journey was planned. When his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he returned to Korea — a decision made with heartbreak, but never regret. “Life doesn’t always let you choose the timing,” he reflects, “but it does let you choose your priorities.”

 

Now newly married, Dwayne and his wife are looking ahead to their future family, already playfully debating school choices. (“Definitely Gilmour and Stanford,” he says. “Go Lancers!”)

 

His advice for current students is full of humility and heart: “Try everything. Make memories. If you’re unsure about something, ask yourself — do I really have a reason not to? If not, go for it. Regret from trying fades; regret from not trying doesn’t.”

 

Also, he adds with a smile: “If you’re a dormer, Grand China might still deliver solid General Tso’s chicken. Just saying.”